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GENTOO.. "etc-update" versus Manual update opinion

"My Goal" in this posting:
Is to learn how-to correctly manually update the files without the use of "ect-update".

How to do this correctly, I'm unsure of so far.

Being new I want to take the time to manually diff each file to see what the differences are of
which I know how to do,(using "diff" at its most basic level that-is) and is good practice for me
to get used to using "diff" as well as looking at the contents of these files to be more familiar
with my Gentoo surroundings/environment. I figure, if I know how to manually update the needed
files, VERSUS using "etc-update", that this will make my Gentoo experience that much more
fullfilling/enlightened, so to say..

At this point, (1)I know logically that I've never messed with this file and, (2)its obvious that
I want the new file in replace of the old one. Not only is it obvious but I was told so:

* NOTICE: PLEASE *REPLACE* your make.globals. All user changes to variables
* in make.globals should be placed in make.conf. DO NOT MODIFY make.globals.

* Feature additions are noted in help and make.conf descriptions. Update
* them using 'etc-update' please. Maintaining current configs for portage
* and other system packages is fairly important for the continued health
* of your system.

So would the correct thing to do in this (Specific) case, being inside the /etc directory, too:

1)

Code:

bash-2.05b# cp ._cfg0000_make.globals make.globals

2)

Code:

bash-2.05b# rm ._cfg0000_make.globals

Now my other question is:

Assuming that this were the only file that had differences (hypothectically speaking), WHAT, if
anything do I need to do to next to let Gentoo know I've made the changes manually instead of
using "etc-update"? Again, correct my thinking of this where you see fit...if it fits.. :P

Which will bring up both files, with the difference highlighted. Of course, you'll need to be able to use vim to edit the files. You can probably do the same thing with emacs. I've heard that it's almost as powerful as vi.